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THE PORTRAYAL OF MISOGYNY IN FAMILY REFLECTED IN THEANIMATED SITCOM “AMERICAN DAD”(2013)THESISSubmitted as partial fulfillment of the requirementsfor the Sarjana Degree in English Department ofFaculty of Cultural Science, Sebelas Maret UniversityWritten by:APRIANTIARA RAHMAWATI SUSMAC0313006ENGLISH DEPARTMENTFACULTY OF CULTURAL SCIENCESSEBELAS MARET UNIVERSITYSURAKARTA2018i

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PRONOUNCEMENTName: Apriantiara Rahmawati SusmaStudent Number: C0313006The researcher states that the thesis entitled “The Portrayal of Misogyny in FamilyReflected in the Animated Sitcom “American Dad” (2013)” is originally written by theresearcher and not a part of plagiarism. The explanation of the research is taken by theoriesand materials from trustable sources with direct quotation and paraphrased citation. Theresearcher is fully responsible for the pronouncement and if this is proven to be wrong, theresearcher is willing to take any responsible actions given by the Faculty of Cultural Science,Sebelas Maret University, including the withdrawal of the degree.Surakarta, 5 January 2018The researcherApriantiara Rahmawati Susmaiv

MOTTO“Successful men and women keep moving.They make mistakes, but they don’t quit”(Conrad Hilton)“I believe in myself and my ability to succeed”(Anonym)v

This thesis is wholeheartedly dedicated to:My lovely and supportive parents&Big family of Soedjimanvi

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTThe researcher would like to give appreciations to all the persons who help me tofinish this thesis.First of all, I would like to thank to Allah SWT for answering my prayers, giving mestrength and the ability to finish this thesis, so that I could accomplish the requirements toearn the S1 degree in English Department of Sebelas Maret University.I am also thankful to Miss Karunia Purna Kusciati, S.S., M.Si, my thesissupervisor who gives endless knowledge and motivations, so that I could complete this thesis.I would also like to appreciate my Academic Supervisor and Head of English Department,Drs. Agus Hari Wibowo, M.A., Ph.D who always guides and supports his students to finishtheir thesis as soon as possible. As a student of this department, my big gratitude goes to allthe lectures of the English Department for giving knowledge, moral and material supportsthat I cannot pay back equally.To my family who always supports me morally, financially and physically, thank youso much. I also appreciate my supporting squads, especially SKNG Squad, my high schoolsweethearts (Titin, Zabella, and Agatha) and my classmates from English Department 2013who help me to go through hard times and make this research presentable. Not to forget, myseniors in English Department too, Mas Itok and Mbak Anna who are always kind and patientexplaining anything related to my thesis.Surakarta, 5 January 2018The researcherApriantiara Rahmawati Susmavii

TABLE OF CONTENTSTITLE .iAPPROVAL OF THE ADVISOR .iiAPPROVAL OF THE BOARD OF EXAMINERS .iiiPRONOUNCEMENT ivMOTTO .vDEDICATION .viACKNOWLEDGEMENT .viiTABLE OF CONTENTS .viiiLIST OF FIGURES. .xABSTRACT .xiiCHAPTER I: INTRODUCTIONA. Research Background .1B. Research Question .7C. Scope of the Research .7D. The Objective of the Research 8E. Benefits of the Research .8F. Research Methodology 9G. Theoretical Approach .11H. Thesis Organization .16CHAPTER II: LITERATURE REVIEWA. Sexism in American Media .B. MisogynyinFamilyandTheIdeologyofTraditionalRoles .17Gender20C. The Depiction of American Family in Prime-time Television Shows .27D. The Image of Women in Television Shows 34E. Animation Theory 40viii

F. Semiotic Theory .45CHAPTER III: ANALYSISA. Title: American Dad .56B. The Encounters of Sexual Objectification Towards Female Characters .62C. Male Privilege as the Result of Patriarchy 76D. The Degradation of Women’s Value .86CHAPTER IV: CONCLUSION AND SUGGESTIONA. Conclusion .101B. Suggestion .103REFERENCES .105ix

LIST OF FIGURESFigure 1Stan wakes up . . . .58Figure 2Stan opens the window 58Figure 3Stan hugs his family 59Figure 4Stan does salute .59Figure 5The Appearance of title . .61Figure 6Roger tells Stan about Francine . .65Figure 7Francine is worried .65Figure 8Francine is lifting up her leg .65Figure 9Francine is dancing . .65Figure 10Roger needs Hayley’s help .68Figure 11Hayley is being Roger’s fake lover .68Figure 12Roger is leering at Hayley .68Figure 13Roger is ogling at Francine’s body . .68Figure 14Hayley changes her appearance .73Figure 15Francine and Hayley are angry . .73Figure 16Francine and Hayley are fighting . . .74Figure 17Roger is recording .74Figure 18Stan is disappointed . .78Figure 19Stan is writing an essay .78Figure 20Stan is scolding Hayley .78Figure 21Stan is watching his neighbours . .81Figure 22Francine and Hayley criticize him .81Figure 23Stan is angry at Francine and Hayley. .82Figure 24Stan is crying . .82x

Figure 25Stan is typing . .87Figure 26Hayley is caught by Stan .87Figure 27Stan reprimands Hayley . .87Figure 28President Bush comes to the house. . .88Figure 29Stan shuts Hayley up .88Figure 30Stan threatens Francine .88Figure 31Stan is all smiley to President Bush . .88Figure 32Stan’s first meeting with Jessica . .92Figure 33Stan talks to Jessica . .92Figure 34Stan is flirting with Jessica .92Figure 35Klaus warns Stan . .92Figure 36Roger accuses Hayley .94Figure 37Roger comes in bathroom . .94Figure 38Roger teases Hayley playfully .94Figure 39Roger monitors Hayley . .96Figure 40Roger ties Hayley up 96Figure 41Roger hugs and sniffs at Hayley 97xi

AbstractApriantiara Rahmawati Susma. C0313006. The Portrayal of Misogyny in Family Reflectedin the Animated Sitcom “American Dad” (2013). Thesis. English Department of Faculty ofCultural Science Sebelas Maret University.The research is mainly aimed to analyze how the attitude of misogyny in family is portrayedin the animated sitcom entitled American Dad. The research chooses the source of data fromthe episodes of American Dad. It involves important components such as dialogues, shots,gestures, camera angles and other elements of cinematography as the main data. Meanwhile,the supporting data are taken from trustable online articles, journals, and books.This research is a qualitative study. It investigates the portrayal of misogynistic attitudes inAmerican Dad using gender approach, semiotic theory and socio-cultural approach. Infinding the ways in which misogyny represented in the show, several scenes from selectedepisodes are analyzed.It comes up with the result that there are some misogyny attitudes manifested in the showsuch as sexual objectification, the issue of male privilege that leads to the subordinationtoward women, the different treatment between men and women, cheating, and sexualharassment which can be categorized as the degradation of women’s value. The findingemphasizes that those attitudes are the reflection of how such issue is alive and has beenaround in society for a long time.Keywords: misogyny in family, the image of family in television show, animated sitcom,realism theoryxii

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CHAPTER IINTRODUCTIONA. Research BackgroundMisogyny refers to the hatred and prejudice toward women that existssince ancient times. Aristotle does point it out loud that “women were imperfectlyhuman, a failure in the process of conception and this view influenced Romanthought which in turn influenced the early apostolic church.” (duBarry, 1994).According to Joan Smith’s book titled Misogynies, most of folks and cultures inthe world are into unfair treatment toward women and gender discrimination, theyare unwilling to admit the hatred toward women because it will strengthen themale dominance. The so-called misogyny is often manifested in numerous actionssuch as different treatment toward women, patriarchal system, male privilege,sexual objectification, sexual jokes and violence toward women.Misogyny happens when men put women in subordinate positions andlimit their access to power and decision making. This kind of attitude can affect tothe way men treat women when women are assumed breaking the rules societyhas been convinced. They would likely be verbally and physically abusivetowards women which then lead to unwanted behaviours such as sexualharassment, sexual assault and even hate crime (Code, 2000, p. 346). The issue ofmisogyny has been going around in day-to-day live, particularly in the United ofStates. American is experienced sexual assault every 98 seconds. It is reported1

that at least 9 out of 10 victims of sexual assault are female. Furthermore, it is alsoreported that the average number of victimized people each year reach into321,500 general public and 60,000 children (Scope of the problems: Statistics,n.d.).Most of the time misogyny permeates in society through cultures andmythologies that people believe in, it originates from the way men see women asthe strong distraction that can lead them to failure. Misogyny can also be seen infamily where gender roles between men and women are pretty much fixated.Since it is rooted deep in everyday life for centuries, it is now easy to findmisogynous representations in American mainstream media. We can easily pointit out in television shows, especially animated sitcom where the formula is prettymuch the real portrayal of American daily life (Holland, 2006, p. 12-13).American animated sitcoms often put American sensitivity regarding race,gender, class, ethnicity, including sexist notion representing traditionalperspective of women and the belief of male dominance. The nature of animationmakes the audience do not take the comments about American sensitive issuesseriously since it is known as the virtual and unreal version of reality. The nonanimated shows are often restricted and structured by the rules regarding sensitivetopics. Meanwhile, the animated shows appear as ‘rule-breaking’ program andcarry outrageous humor which purposely becomes a medium to deliver issues andideologies (Collazo, 2014).2

This research uses one of popular American animated sitcoms titledAmerican Dad to find out how misogyny in family is portrayed. American Daditself was aired its pilot episode on February 6th 2005 in the Fox BroadcastingCompany. It is directed by Seth MacFarlane, Mike Barker, and Matt Weitzmanfor the Fox Broadcasting Company. Seth MacFarlane is also known as the creatorof Family Guy which is American Dad’s sister show that debut on January 31st1999. Family Guy and American Dad are considered as sister shows since bothhave similar plot story yet different on the way they deliver the jokes. Both of theshows have been nominated and won many awards, including Teen ChoiceAwards, People’s Choice Awards and Primetime Emmy Awards. As the showsaired, the audience often find the certain characteristics of MacFarlane’s works.He always puts the absurd characterization into his characters and tries to deliverhot issues of the time. Furthermore, most of his shows are also grounded by thefamily stories and relatable problems that the audience can also find in real life(American Dad, n.d.).American Dad itself tells about Stan Smith as an agent of CIA who liveswith his quirky family in Langley Falls, Virginia. The family members are Stanhimself, Francine who is Stan’s wife, Hayley who is Stan’s college-aged daughterand Steve who is Stan’s high-school-aged son. The focus of this series is howStan deals with the absurd life as the agent of CIA and how the family memberslive their life in quirky yet absurd way. As the story goes on, the misogyny infamily can also be found in this show.3